MUZIChinese Matrix
Scholars › Historian
Eminent Qing Historian, Literary Critic, and Author of Notes on the Twenty-Two Histories
In an archive hall, tall wooden shelves hold scrolls and bound books with small tags, and one person climbs a ladder with their back turned; a long table in front holds an unrolled river map, a bronze lamp and a copper jug, with a city wall seen through the window.
Also known as Zhao Yunsong · Yunsong · Oubei · Master Oubei · Zhao Oubei · Nianer Shi Zhaji Zuozhe
Renowned Qing Dynasty historian and poet whose 'Notes on the Twenty-Two Histories' (Nian'ershi Zhaji) stands as a masterpiece of historiographical critique.
QingThe Draft History of the Qing says Zhao Yi, a provincial graduate, was placed on the Mingtong supplementary list, took a post as secretary in the Grand Secretariat, served in the Grand Council, and was later made a compiler. It says he was especially versed in history; he wrote the Notes on the Twenty-two Histories, the Record of the Dynasty's Martial Achievements, the Gaiyu congkao and the Yanpu zaji.
The Draft History of the Qing lists the Oubei Poetry Collection among his writings and says that in his time Yuan Mei and Jiang Shiquan were ranked beside Zhao Yi, though his gift for statecraft was never fully used.